Jury convicts Satterwhite of murdering girlfriend

Published: Wednesday, May 15, 2013 at 8:14 p.m.

Last Modified: Thursday, May 16, 2013 at 11:34 a.m.

GAFFNEY — Allene Jean Ellis was not a fighter.

On Wednesday, a jury of five men and seven women fought for her, taking about an hour and 15 minutes to find her former boyfriend, Joseph Dante Satterwhite, guilty of murdering Ellis and possessing a firearm during the commission of a violent crime.

Ellis believed God would take care of anyone who antagonized her, according to her sister, Shirley Smith.

Smith remembered her younger sister's “beautiful smile.” Smith said Ellis sang in churches throughout the area.

“She loved the Lord,” Smith said.

Seventh Circuit Solicitor Barry Barnette said Satterwhite — a former music minister — ambushed and shot Ellis in the back of the head the night of March 14, 2012. Ellis, 44, died on the front porch of her Camellia Circle home.

Satterwhite testified Wednesday that he accidentally shot Ellis during an altercation with his father. Ellis, he said, got between them and tripped. Satterwhite denied murdering the woman, whom he said was much more than a girlfriend.

“My role to Allene was more of a protector,” Satterwhite said. He said she was the love of his life.

Barnette questioned why Satterwhite did not help Ellis or call 911, but left the scene and threw a .38 caliber handgun into a wooded, overgrown area beside the victim's home.

Satterwhite admitted he left the scene, walked to his apartment and later called a friend to give him a ride.

Authorities apprehended Satterwhite the next day in Greensboro, N.C. His address is listed as 2706 Summit Ave. in Greensboro, but Satterwhite said he often stayed with Ellis and also had an apartment in Gaffney.

Satterwhite said he called a friend for a ride because he received threats after the shooting. That wasn't the only call he made.

A pastor and music minister testified Wednesday that Satterwhite called them the night of the shooting, telling one he thought he killed Ellis, and another that he killed her. Both men said they urged Satterwhite to surrender to authorities.

Satterwhite said he and Ellis argued earlier that day because he assumed she was seeing someone else. He said he took Ellis to her daughter's workplace. Ellis' daughter, Yasmine Ellis, testified Tuesday that her mother came into the business and asked to leave through the back door. Ellis left in her daughter's car while Satterwhite was parked out front.

Satterwhite often called Ellis by her nickname — Pumpkin.

Satterwhite indicated that he suspected something between Ellis and his father, Wesley Satterwhite. Wesley Satterwhite testified Tuesday against his son. Under cross examination, Satterwhite said he wasn't implying that there was a relationship between the two.

Wesley's birthday was a couple days before the shooting and after Ellis said she didn't want to go to the party, Satterwhite said he confronted her.

He said they argued again the day of the shooting. He attended Bible study that night and later went to Ellis' home. He denied ambushing Ellis. He said he received a call from his father that Ellis was at his home. According to prior testimony, Ellis and Yasmine went to Satterwhite's father and stepmother's home for their help looking for Satterwhite.

But Satterwhite said he and his father got into an argument that escalated. Satterwhite said he saw the .38 caliber handgun in the living room, picked up the gun and fired a shot into the floor. He thought the shot would make someone “tell the truth” and said, “Now which one of ya'll lying?”

He said he fired a second shot and hit furniture. He said Ellis got between him and his father during the altercation and was shot after she tripped.

“She was the victim of her own heart,” Satterwhite said. “…I loved Pumpkin with all my heart,” he said, adding he would not have killed her.

Satterwhite said he stared down in disbelief after the shooting and was a “zombie” the following days.

Satterwhite said he was heavily medicated when he was questioned by Gaffney Police Department officers. One officer testified that Satterwhite appeared coherent, waived his rights and signed a statement.

But Satterwhite said that police told him what happened based on information from his father and stepmother's accounts of that night's events.

Barnette said Satterwhite had never told that account before, which Satterwhite denied.

Barnette got the cellphone that Satterwhite used and had Satterwhite read sexually charged text messages that he sent a woman he said he knew from church. Satterwhite said he was counseling the woman who had “low self-esteem.”

Satterwhite denied he was seeing someone else. He said his heart belonged to Ellis and that he shot the gun, but did not murder her.

Satterwhite appeared in court May 6, 2013 for a plea hearing. In exchange for his guilty plea, the state recommended that Satterwhite not receive a life sentence. That settlement possibility was off the table after Satterwhite backed out.

Satterwhite's criminal record includes assault inflicting serious injury, accessory after the fact of shooting in to a dwelling and possession of a firearm by a convicted felon.

The verdicts and sentence came as a relief to Yasmine Ellis, who searched their home the night of the shooting because her mother feared Satterwhite was inside.

“He's a threat,” Yasmine said.

The Gaffney High School senior said she most remembers her mother's caring attitude. Ellis taught her now 18-year-old daughter that one person can change another's life.

“You only get one mom. No one can ever take the place of your mom,” Yasmine said.

<p>GAFFNEY — Allene Jean Ellis was not a fighter.</p><p>On Wednesday, a jury of five men and seven women fought for her, taking about an hour and 15 minutes to find her former boyfriend, Joseph Dante Satterwhite, guilty of murdering Ellis and possessing a firearm during the commission of a violent crime.</p><p>Circuit Court Judge Derham Cole sentenced Satterwhite, 31, to life in prison.</p><p>Ellis believed God would take care of anyone who antagonized her, according to her sister, Shirley Smith.</p><p>Smith remembered her younger sister's “beautiful smile.” Smith said Ellis sang in churches throughout the area.</p><p>“She loved the Lord,” Smith said.</p><p>Seventh Circuit Solicitor Barry Barnette said Satterwhite — a former music minister — ambushed and shot Ellis in the back of the head the night of March 14, 2012. Ellis, 44, died on the front porch of her Camellia Circle home.</p><p>Satterwhite testified Wednesday that he accidentally shot Ellis during an altercation with his father. Ellis, he said, got between them and tripped. Satterwhite denied murdering the woman, whom he said was much more than a girlfriend.</p><p>“My role to Allene was more of a protector,” Satterwhite said. He said she was the love of his life.</p><p>Barnette questioned why Satterwhite did not help Ellis or call 911, but left the scene and threw a .38 caliber handgun into a wooded, overgrown area beside the victim's home.</p><p>Satterwhite admitted he left the scene, walked to his apartment and later called a friend to give him a ride.</p><p>Authorities apprehended Satterwhite the next day in Greensboro, N.C. His address is listed as 2706 Summit Ave. in Greensboro, but Satterwhite said he often stayed with Ellis and also had an apartment in Gaffney.</p><p>Satterwhite said he called a friend for a ride because he received threats after the shooting. That wasn't the only call he made.</p><p>A pastor and music minister testified Wednesday that Satterwhite called them the night of the shooting, telling one he thought he killed Ellis, and another that he killed her. Both men said they urged Satterwhite to surrender to authorities.</p><p>Satterwhite said he and Ellis argued earlier that day because he assumed she was seeing someone else. He said he took Ellis to her daughter's workplace. Ellis' daughter, Yasmine Ellis, testified Tuesday that her mother came into the business and asked to leave through the back door. Ellis left in her daughter's car while Satterwhite was parked out front.</p><p>Satterwhite often called Ellis by her nickname — Pumpkin.</p><p>Satterwhite indicated that he suspected something between Ellis and his father, Wesley Satterwhite. Wesley Satterwhite testified Tuesday against his son. Under cross examination, Satterwhite said he wasn't implying that there was a relationship between the two.</p><p>Wesley's birthday was a couple days before the shooting and after Ellis said she didn't want to go to the party, Satterwhite said he confronted her.</p><p>He said they argued again the day of the shooting. He attended Bible study that night and later went to Ellis' home. He denied ambushing Ellis. He said he received a call from his father that Ellis was at his home. According to prior testimony, Ellis and Yasmine went to Satterwhite's father and stepmother's home for their help looking for Satterwhite.</p><p>But Satterwhite said he and his father got into an argument that escalated. Satterwhite said he saw the .38 caliber handgun in the living room, picked up the gun and fired a shot into the floor. He thought the shot would make someone “tell the truth” and said, “Now which one of ya'll lying?”</p><p>He said he fired a second shot and hit furniture. He said Ellis got between him and his father during the altercation and was shot after she tripped.</p><p>“She was the victim of her own heart,” Satterwhite said. “…I loved Pumpkin with all my heart,” he said, adding he would not have killed her.</p><p>Satterwhite said he stared down in disbelief after the shooting and was a “zombie” the following days.</p><p>Satterwhite said he was heavily medicated when he was questioned by Gaffney Police Department officers. One officer testified that Satterwhite appeared coherent, waived his rights and signed a statement.</p><p>But Satterwhite said that police told him what happened based on information from his father and stepmother's accounts of that night's events.</p><p>Barnette said Satterwhite had never told that account before, which Satterwhite denied.</p><p>Barnette got the cellphone that Satterwhite used and had Satterwhite read sexually charged text messages that he sent a woman he said he knew from church. Satterwhite said he was counseling the woman who had “low self-esteem.”</p><p>Satterwhite denied he was seeing someone else. He said his heart belonged to Ellis and that he shot the gun, but did not murder her.</p><p>Satterwhite appeared in court May 6, 2013 for a plea hearing. In exchange for his guilty plea, the state recommended that Satterwhite not receive a life sentence. That settlement possibility was off the table after Satterwhite backed out.</p><p>Satterwhite's criminal record includes assault inflicting serious injury, accessory after the fact of shooting in to a dwelling and possession of a firearm by a convicted felon.</p><p>The verdicts and sentence came as a relief to Yasmine Ellis, who searched their home the night of the shooting because her mother feared Satterwhite was inside.</p><p>“He's a threat,” Yasmine said.</p><p>The Gaffney High School senior said she most remembers her mother's caring attitude. Ellis taught her now 18-year-old daughter that one person can change another's life.</p><p>“You only get one mom. No one can ever take the place of your mom,” Yasmine said.</p>